A senior Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics at Manchester University, Dr Heazell shares his time equally between clinical practice and research along with teaching within the Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Biomedicine. His passion for stillbirth research and obstetric care stems, in part, from his personal understanding, after his son Jack was stillborn in 2001. Alex is Clinical Director of the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre and leads the stillbirth research theme at the Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, which includes projects to understand the reasons for stillbirth, and prevention of perinatal mortality and improving care for parents whose babies die before or shortly after birth. Alex operates Rainbow Clinic, a specialist clinical service or parents who have experienced a stillbirth in a previous pregnancy. This is supported jointly by Tommy’s and Central Manchester University Foundation Hospitals NHS Trust.
Dr Heazell is the Chair of The International Stillbirth Association (ISA) board, and works with the Scientific Advisory Committee within ISA to improve information for parents and direct effective research. He has been involved in the Confidential Enquiry into Perinatal Deaths in Cumbria (2009-2010) and has worked closely with Sands and the Human Tissue Authority to develop a national consent form package for post-mortem after perinatal death, both of which translated research findings into clinical practice. Additionally he volunteers his time as Patron & Medical Advisor to UK charity Kicks Count and is part of the team of Medical Advisors to US based Star Legacy Foundation.